DAMBULLA ROCK TEMPLEUNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OBJECTIVE UNESCO CENTRAL CULTURAL FUND DAMBULLA ROCK TEMPLE ASSISTANCE OF UNESCO TO PROTECT

AND MAINTAIN THE MONUMENT

DESCRIPTION

Conservation material context of past human societies is one of the main goals of Archaeology. It requires latest

technology, deep study of written history and ability to see the ground through archaeological scope.

OBJECTIVE

Objective of this presentation is to study and analyze about the importance of Dambulla Rock Temple and the

assistance provided by UNESCO to protect and restore the monument.

UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).

Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in

order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in

the United Nations Charter. It is the heir of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.

CENTRAL CULTURAL FUND

The Central Cultural Fund was the implementing agency for the UNESCO- Sri Lanka cultural Triangle from 1980 to 1997, covering World Heritage Sites of Anuradhapura including Abhayagiriya and Jetavana Monasteries, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. This is the largest ever heritage conservation programme carried out in Sri Lanka and one of the most successful UNESCO sponsored programme. A campaign was launched through the UNESCO to obtain initial funds from the international community and agencies to commence the work. 

DAMBULLA ROCK TEMPLE

This temple complex dates back to the 1st century BC. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. In 1938 the architecture was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances..

Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.

The temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms. The caves, built at the base of a 150m high rock

during the Anuradhapura (1st century BC to 993 AD) and Polonnaruwa times (1073 to 1250), are by far the most impressive of

the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka.

The Dambulla cave monastery is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka.

ASSISTANCE OF UNESCO

Conservation at the Dambulla Temple Complex has primarily concentrated on the preservation of its mural schemes. Senake Bandaranayake reports that the schemes were cleaned during an initial conservation project during the 1960s which involved the cleaning of the murals and the application of a protective coating.

UNESCO maid their involvement by commencing a joined project of reconstructing the monument during 1982-1996 in collaboration with Dambulla Temple Authorities. They implemented the policy of keeping the original features unaltered during the conservation.

As the Dambulla Temple remains an active ritual centre, the conservation plans of the 1982-1996 project were directed at improving the infrastructure and accessibility of the site in accordance with its UNESCO world heritage status.

More recent inspections by UNESCO in 2003 have proposed an expansion to the existing protected zone around the complex in order to minimize damage to surrounding archaeological features.

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